Display rack



1965 E. R. TEJERIAN 3,203,556

DISPLAY RACK Filed June 21, 1963 United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-119) The present invention relates to a display rack for haberdashery, primarily neckties of the fOllf-lI1-h 3l'ld type, both regular and pie-knotted. The display rack of the present invention also provides readily accessible storage for such ties, and as an incidental advantage, serves as a convenient rack for pro-knotted clip-on bow ties, belts, and other ancillary haberdashery items.

Previously known display racks for haberdashery items, particularly pro-knotted four-in-hand ties, have been found to be extremely limited to their storage capacity in relation to their physical dimensions. Their utility in regard to providing ready access to such ties displayed thereon has also been less than the desired optimum. Such pre-knotted ties do not lend themselves to storage on racks designed for storing conventional unknotted ties, since contemporary pro-knotted ties norm-ally provide a pair of flexible stays, rearwardly outwardly diverging from the knot, and a retaining element, usually in the form of a hook, extended rearwardly from the knot and located substantially centrally of the stays. Most such ties are provided with stays and retaining elements formed of a lightweight flexible material, such as a resilient plastic. Although such stays and retaining hooks in pre-knotted ties have provided a great convenience to wearers, these stays and hooks have made it impractical to display or store such ties in the usual manner of unknottcd ties.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ha'ber-dashery supply rack having particular utility in storing pre-knotted ties in a manner affording dependable storage and convenient display and selection.

Another object is to provide a display rack for haberdashery which is of substantially rectangular form, lying in a single plane, and efficiently utilizes the space defined with-in said form.

Another object is to provide a display rack adapted to support .a variety of contemporary haberdashery items.

Another object is to provide a display rack to support pro-knotted neck t-ies and adapted to utilize the stays of such ties to retain the same on the rack.

A further object is to provide a display rack having novel guide means to maintain such pro-knotted ties in substantially vertical alignment while displayed on the rack and also to permit inspection and removal of any tie supported thereon with a minimum of disturbance of associated ties.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a haberdashery support which is economically manufactured, lightweight, and convenient to use, either in the manner of a conventional clothes hanger or secured to an upright Wall surface.

These together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a view in front elevation showing the haberdashery display rack embodying the principles of the present invention, various typical items of haberdashery being shown in .a position of support and display on the rack.

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section of the display rack, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing,

the haberdas'hery display rack includes a rigid frame member 10 in the form of an elongated U-shaped rod, and disposed in a substantially inverted position when in use. The frame member includes a pair of inwardly d-i-sposed laterally spaced retaining hooks 11 and 12 spaced a predetermined distance from lateral rail portions 13 and 14 of the framernember 10. Respective bight portions 15 and 16 interconnect the rail portions and the hooks 11 and 12. Each of the hooks is provided with a protective tip 17, preferably formed of suitable elastomeric material, such as rubber, plastic, or the like. The hooks are primarily intended to retain a plurality of contemporary belts fragmentarily illustrated at 18.

The frame member 10 includes a crossbar 20 interconnecting the lateral rails 13 and 14. A pair of spaced, laterally oppose-d annular flanges 21 .and 22 are provided on the crossbar to define therebetween a central journal 23. A yoke 24- is pivot-ally connected to the journal and provided with an upwardly presented aperture 25 when in the position shown in FIG. 1.

A support hook includes a curved anchor portion 31 and a lower shank portion 32 adapted to be received within the aperture 25 of the yoke 24. An annular flange 33 extended from the shank in cooperation with a circumscribing lower washer 34 and a retaining head 35 pivotally secure the hook 30 to the yoke 24. The hook and the yoke, in combination, constitute a support means for the frame 10 and adapt it for disposition in a substantially vertical plane, as Well as permitting folding of the support hook within the substantially rectangular outline of the frame. This materially reduces the dimensions of the display rack and facilitates packing and shipping thereof. The hook 30 is also provided with a protective tip 36 formed of suitable elastomeric material.

On the left side of the frame member 10, as viewed in FIG. 1, .a plurality of transversely spaced, elongated rigid rods 40, 41 and 42 are extended between the crossbar 20 and the bight portion 15. Accordingly, a pair of spaced, parallel, elongated slots 43 and 44 are defined respectively between the rail 13 and rod 14 and between the rods 41 and 42. The rods and 41 each afford respective laterally opposed inner edges 45 and 46, which define therebetween a guide slot 47.

The right side, as viewed in FIG. 1, is also provided with a plurality of elongated rigid rods 50, 51 and 52 extended between the crossbar 20 and the 'bight portion 16 in a manner substantially identical to that of the rods 49, 41 and 42. Accordingly, a pair of elongated, transversely spaced, parallel slots 53 and 54 are respectively defined between the side rail 14 and the rod and between the rods 51 and 52. The rods 50 and 51 are provided with respective laterally opposed inner edges 55 and 56 and define there'between an elongated guideway 57.

A rigid strut in the form of a rod 60 interconnects the rods 42 and 52., and serves as a brace to enhance the rigidity of the frame member 10. The rod 60 is provided .with laterally opposed converging sloping portions 61 and 62 and a central support portion 63 adapted to store thereon one or more conventional unknotted fourin-hand ties, two of which are fragmentarily illustrated in dashed lines at 64.

A substantially flat strut is extended between the rods 42 and 52 and provides a storage and display portion for a plurality of how ties 71 of the clip-on type, each tie having a pair of retaining spring clips 72, one of which releasably frictionally engages the strut 70.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is divergently extended. A retaining element 83, in the form of a downwardly facing hook, is rearwardly extended from the knot and adapted to engage the collar of a wearer. The stays are preferably formed of a lightweight flexible material, such as a resilient plastic and are adapted to underlie the collar tabs of a wearer. The stays also conveniently releasably mount the ties on the display rack of the present invention.

In use, the hooks 11 and 12 conveniently provide display and storage support for a plurality of belts 18. The rod 60 is adapted to support centrally thereof a plurality of unknotted four-in-hand ties. The converging laterally opposed sloping portions 61 and 62 permit removal of any tie, regardless of its vertical position in the storage area afforded by the central support portion 63, while insuring that the ties maintain their position on the central support portion. A selected tie, even the lowermost tie resting immediately on the central support portion 63, can be removed laterally outwardly from the support portion without disturbing overlying ties.

The substantially flat strut 70 affords maximum utilization of the space defined by the crossbar 20, the innermost rods 42 and 52 and the interconnecting rod 60. While affording such utilization, the strut 70 permits releasable mounting of conventional clip-on bow ties and supports them in a position for display and individual selection without disturbing other ties stored thereon.

A plurality of the pre-knotted four-in-hand ties 80 are releasably mounted in the frame by means of their individual stays 82. Each of the stays is individually slidably received and retained in one of the elongated slots 43, 44, 53 or 54. As illustrated on both the left and right sides of the display rack shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of such pre-knotted ties 81 are individually retained by means of their stays 82 received within one of the pairs of laterally opposed retaining slots, such as 43 and 44. The tie retaining elements, such as the books 83, are slidably received in a respective one of the guideways 47 and 57 to insure substantial vertical alignment of the ties on the display rack. It will be observed from both FIGS. 1 and 2, that when the pre-knotted ties 80 are mounted in such a manner, a portion of each tie is visible for display and inspection by a prospective customer or wearer. In addition, any individual tie 80 may be removed from the display rack, regardless of its relative vertical position, merely by grasping the knot 81 and movement of the tie away from the display rack. During such movement, the flexible stays are deflected sufliciently to permit removal from the slots, such as 43 and 44, in which they had previously been retained.

Should it be desired to replace the tie, even in its previous position relative to other ties remaining on the display rack, such other ties are moved to a superior position, the stays 82 of the removed tie are then compressed inwardly toward each other sufficiently to permit admission into a respective one of the slots 43 and 44, and the stays are then inserted into the slots. Subsequent release of the tie permits it to assume a position of display, as illustrated. The retaining hook 83, being received within the guideway 47 insures a uniform positioning of the ties on the display rack.

Accordingly, a lightweight haberdashery display rack is provided by the present invention, the rack being of substantially rectangular configuration and lying in a single plane, By providing laterally opposed pairs of retaining slots 43, 44, and 53, 54, the rack is provided with a bilateral symmetrical configuration affording maximum utilization of the storage space defined by the frame 10. Such construction also facilitates support of the rack by the hook member 30 which is centrally located on the crossbar 20. While efficiently utilizing the storage space of the rack, the particular relationship of the component elements permits removal of any tie stored thereon without the removal of adjacent ties, while also dependably maintaining the ties and other items of haberdashery in an orderly arrangement permitting inspection of each.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent is:

1. A display rack for ties having individual knots preformed therein, the knot having a predetermined forward portion, a pair of laterally opposed flexible retaining members rearwardly outwardly divergently extended therefrom and a retaining element rearwardly extended from the knot substantially centrally located relative to said retaining members, the rack comprising a rigid elongated U-shaped frame member, including a crossbar portion; a support hook; universal connection means pivotally interconnecting said hook and said crossbar portion and adapting the hook to support the frame in a substantially vertical inverted position having laterally opposed depending ends; the frame member including a pair of laterally opposed retaining hooks inwardly spaced from said depending ends and connected thereto by respective bight portions; a plurality of uniformly transversely spaced, parallel elongated rigid rods extended between said crossbar and the respective bight portions of said retaining hooks thereby to define laterally opposed pairs of spaced parallel elongated slots adapted individually to receive and retain a respective one of said flexible members so that the pre-knotted ties are individually releasably mounted in the frame; and means carried by the frame and defining a guideway substantially centrally disposed between each pair of slots.

2. A display rack for ties having individual knots preformed therein, the knot having a predetermined forward portion, a pair of laterally opposed flexible retaining members rearwardly outwardly divergently extended therefrom and a retaining element rearwardly extending from the knot substantially centrally located relative to said retaining members, the rack comprising a rigid elongated U-shaped frame member, including a crossbar portion; a support hook; universal means pivotally interconnecting said hook and said crossbar portion and adapting the hook to support the frame in a substantially vertical inverted position having laterally opposed depending ends; the frame member including a pair of laterally opposed retaining hooks inwardly spaced from said depending ends and connected thereto by respective bight portions and adapted to support thereon a plurality of conventional haberdashery belts; a plurality of uniformly transversely spaced parallel elongated rigid rods extended between said crossbar and the respective bight portions of said retaining hooks thereby to define laterally opposed pairs of spaced parallel elongated slots adapted individually to receive and retain a respective one of said flexible members so that the pre-knotted ties are individually releasably mounted in the frame; means carried by the fame and defining a guideway substantially centrally disposed between each pair of slots; and a rigid brace transversely extended between adjacent innermost rods and provided with laterally opposed converging sloping portions and a central support portion substantially horizontally disposed and adapted to support thereon one or more conventional unknotted four-in-hand ties.

3. The haberdashery display rack of claim 2 wherein a flat strut is rigidly secured to said innermost rods and disposed in a substantially horizontal position when the frame is supported in a vertical plane by said support hook, the flat strut being adapted to support conventional pre-knotted bow ties having spring clips extended therefrom, the clips being releasably frictionally engaged with said strut.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Skuterud 2l1106 X Klein 211l19 X Van Dusen 211106 X Van Dusen 2l1l 19 Arrington 211-119 McKeever 211--13 10 CLAUDE A LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY RACK FOR TIES HAVING INDIVIDUAL KNOTS PREFORMED THEREIN, THE KNOT HAVING A PREDETERMINED FORWARD PORTION, A PAIR OF LATERALLY OPPOSED FLEXIBLE RETAINING MEMBERS REARWARDLY OUTWARDLY DIVERGENTLY EXTENDED THEREFROM AND A RETAINING ELEMENT REARWARDLY EXTENDED FROM THE KNOT SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY LOCATED RELATIVE TO SAID RETAINING MEMBERS, THE RACK COMPRISING A RIGID ELONGATED U-SHAPED FRAME MEMBER, INCLUDING A CROSSBAR PORTION; A SUPPORT HOOK; UNIVERSAL CONNECTION MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID HOOK AND SAID CROSSBAR PORTION AND ADAPTING THE HOOK TO SUPPORT THE FRAME IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL INBERTED POSITION HAVING LATERALLY OPPOSED DEPENDING ENDS; THE FRAME MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY OPPOSED RETAINING HOOKS INWARDLY SPACED FROM SAID DEPENDING ENDS AND CONNECTED THERETO BY RESPECTIVE BIGHT PORTIONS; A PLURALITY OF UNIFORMLY TRANSVERSELY SPACED, PARALLEL ELONGATED RIGID RODS EXTENDED BETWEEN SAID CROSSBAR AND THE RESPECTIVE BIGHT PORTIONS OF SAID RETAINING HOOKS THEREBY TO DEFINE LATERALLY OPPOSED PAIRS OF SPACED PARALLEL ELONGATED SLOTS ADAPTED INDIVIDUALLY TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS SO THAT THE PRE-KNOTTED TIES ARE INDIVIDUALLY RELEASABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME; AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE FRAME AND DEFINING A GUIDEWAY SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF SLOTS. 